Pttmping system



June 2, 1931. J. OLIPHANT PUMPING SYSTEM Filed llay 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 2, 1931. J. OLIPHANT PUIIPING SYSTEM Filed May 1 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN OLIPHANT, 01

Patented June- 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SULLIVAN MACHINERY COK- PANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS PUMPING SYSTEM Application filed May 16,1923. Serial No. 639,265

My invention relates'to pumping systems, and more especially to multiple unit pumping systems and controllingmeans therefor.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved pumping system. It is customary in certain ore extractionoperations to employ series of sumps or wells in WhlCh' supervision, it is desirable that automatic means controlled by the level of the material in the sumps be provided and for .the purpose of insuring the system against possible need for shutting down a plurality of air supply means (air being the pumping fluid) is desirable. A further object of my invention is, therefore, to provide a multiple liquid pumping system and to provide in this system a multiple pumping fluid supply unit and likewise to control the system by improved controlling .means. A further object of my invention is to provide improved level controlled controlling means. Other objects and advantages of my invention will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the acchmpanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration one form which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings, 7

Fig. 1 is an end elevation, somewhat in the nature of a diagrammatic view, of a pumping system constructed in'accordance with the illustrated embodiment of my invention, but a single well or sump being shown and a single compressor, other'wells and compressors 7 being arranged in parallelism to the ones shown.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale of an automatic control means.

F ig; 3 is a plan view of such a system showing the piping connections, etc.

In the system that I have shown for purposes of illustration means is provided for pumping a liquid or a liquid carrying finely divided solid matter in suspension therein, from a series of wells or sumps, 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The pumping means employed for each of these wells or sumps is closely similar and comprises an air lift pumping mechanism having a foot piece 5 adapted to raise the liquid material in a riser pipe 6 and to discharge it into a booster 7 from which it is led away to the desired point by a pipe 8. Pumping fluid is supplied to each foot piece 5 through a down pipe 9 which receives air from a receiver 10, the several receivers 10, 10, 10 and 10 being connected by pipes controlled respectively by valves 1, 2', 3, 4' with their respective down pipes.

Each of the individual pumping units is automatically controlled by the liquid level within the wells or sumps, a depending pipell having an open bottom and projecting toward the bottom of the well being arranged in each well so that variations in the liquid level in the wells will cause variations in the pressure in the pipes 11, and these variations are taken advantage of to operate diaphragms 12 disposed in diaphragm casings 13 mounted on the top of the drop pipes 11. The diaphragms 12 are connected to plungers 14 which act upon the free ends of levers 15 pivotally connected by links 16 to valve casing members 17. For the purpose of normally depressin the free end of the levers 15,-weights 18 a justable lon 'tudinally of the levers 15 are provided. I ear their points of pivotal connection to the links 16 the levers 15 engage valve stems 20, which stems have herein formed upon them at their lower ends a plurality of valve elements or portions 21 and 22, the former cooperating with seats 23 surrounding passages 24 slightly larger in diameter than the stems so as to permit exhaust from ,the interior of the chambers 31 when the plungers 20 are depressed and the valve portions 22 cooperatingwith the seats 25 surrounding passageways 26. The passageway 26 in the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 is connected to a pipe 26' through which air is supplied to the regulating mechanism, while other similar pipes connect the respective controlling mechanisms for the wells 2, 3 and 4 with sources of supply. The valve portions 21 and 22 are arranged within chambers 31 in the casing members 17 and these chambers,

- the intake closure valves proper (not shown) Suitable spring operated yok mechanisms 46 normally maintain the pistons 44 and rods 45 in lowermost position, i. e. position to close off the communication between the compressor cylinders and the atmosphere so that the cylinders will be unloaded when the pistons are in bottom position. It will now be observed that upon the building up of pressure beneath one of the diaphragms 12 one of the stems 14 will be moved upward, raising its lever 15 and permitting the respective valve portion 22 to lift from its seat 25, while the corresponding valve portion 21 will be permitted to seat upon its seat portion 23. As

a result, fluid will'pass from the chambers 31 to act beneath one of the pistons 44 and lift the same, thereby opening an intake closure valve and loading a compressor cylinder and causing the latter to pump air to its respective receiver and so through a down pipe 9 to one of the pump mechanisms 5 to reduce the liquid level in the well or sump.

For the purpose of enabling any given compressor to be shut down for repairs, three different compressors have been employed and all of the several receivers 10, 10', 10 and 10' are connected together by suitable manifolds as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. Itwill be observed that there are six similar compressor cylinders 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 WlllCh are connected in the following manner with the receivers: Each receiver has mounted upon the top of it an upwardly directed pipe member 57 from which there extend six valved branches 58, 59, 60, 61, 62 and 63 and these several branches connect with longitudinally extending pipes 64, 65, 66, 67, 68 and 69, respectively. The three horizontal cylinders 51, 53 and 55 are connected by suitable valved pipes 70, 71, and 72, respectively, to the longitudinal main pipes 64, 66, and 68, while the three vertical cylinders 52, 54 and 56 connect respectively by pipes 73, 74 and 75 to the three main or lon 'tudinally extending pipes 65, 67 and 69. uitable valves 64, 65', 66'. 67 68', and 69 control the various pipes 72, 71, 7 0, and 7 3, 74, 7 57 With this arrangement it will be'clearly evident that by opening suitable valves it is possible for any compressor cylinder to discharge to any receiver, or for any possible combination that may be desired .to be made up between the compressors and receivers. For example,it will be possible for any single compressor cylinder to supply air to any or all of the receivers. 4

It is also desirable that it be possible for each of the various automatic control mechto control the operation of each of the several unloading mechanisms 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39. With this in view, a series of four longitudinally extending pipes 81,82, 83 and 84 is arranged in parallelism with the well or sump system. The pipe 27 from the automatic control mechanism of well 1 connects to the pipe 84. The pipe 28 from the automatic control mechanism of well' 2 connects to line 83. In like manner the pipes 29 and 30 of wells 3 and 4 connect to lines 82 and 81. 'The several unloading mechanisms 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39 are connected respectively by pipes 34, 35, 36, 37 38 and 39', under valve control with each of the four pipes 81, 82, 83 and 84, there being four valves associated with the four pipes 81, 82, 83 and 84, eachof the pipes 34, 35', 36', 37, 38', and 39' controlling communication with one of the pipes 81, 82, 83 (and 84 and valves arrganged in each of the lines 81 to 84 between the connections to the latter of the pipes 34 and 35, 36 and 37, and 38' and 39. The first mentioned valves are respectively designated 34, 34", 34, 34, 35 35, etc. and the last 81, 82*, 83, 84 81 82", 83 84", and 81, 82, 83, and 84. There are also valves 27 arranged in the pipe 84 between the pipe 27 and the valve 84", 28 in the pipe 83 between the valves 83 and 83 29 in the pipe 82 between the valves 82 and 82, and 30 in the pipe 30 before its junction to 81. By the suitable manipulation of the various valves, any well control mechanism can control the operation of my cylinder unloadin mechanism.

As the mode of o eration Wlll be readily apparent from the oregoing description of the structures, it is believed that no lengthy description is necessary. By way of illustration, however, the possibility of pumping well 4 with cylinder 51 may be pointed out. It will be observed that the pipe 30 extends over toand is connectible, when the valves 30 and 34 and likewise the valves 81, 81 and 81 are open, with the pipe 34. It will be noted that the cylinder 51 discharges into the line 64 running longitudinally of the group of receivers and that when the valve 68 is open the cylinder 51 may discharge by way of the line 68 into the receiver 10 which line extends over to the receiver 10 which is connected when the valve 4 is open with the pumping mechanism in well 4. It will therefore be clearly apparent that, when pressure is built up in the pipe 11 of well 4 due to rising liquid level therein, the diaphragm 12 of the controllin mechanism in well 4 may cause the admlssion of pressure to the pipe 30 which will operate the loading mechanism 34 and start pumping operation in cylinder 51. All valves except those referred to may be closed and the operation will then occur as specified. It will be apparent that the cylinder 51 will be able to discharge through the piping connection described to the down pipe 9 in well 4 and cause that well to be pumped.

Should it be desired to pump well 2 with cylinder '54:, the followin arrangement of 10 valves is made. The va ve 28 is closed,

whereas the valve 88 is open, the valves 37*,

37 and 37 are likewise open, but the valves to either side thereof in the lines 81 and '82 are closed. This makes a direct connection in the controlling mechanism between the cylinder 54 and the well 2. The discharge from cylinder 54 passes through pipe 74 into line 67. The value 67 which corresponds to well 2 is opened and pressure fluid is therefore pumped into receiver 10'. Other combinations may be similarly efi'ected. 7

While I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims. I

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fluid pumping mechanism, a compressor, a pumping mechanism supplied thereby, unloading means for said compressor and means for controlling the operation of said unloading mechanism including a fluid actuated piston, a valve controlling the supply and exhaust of pressure to and from said piston, means normally causing interruption of the supply of fluid to said pistonand the exhaust of fluid therefrom, and means including a diaphragm operative to move said last mentioned means and a down pipe projecting into a chamber from which said pump raises liquid for controlling the operation of said valve by variations in level of the liquid pumped.

' 2. In a liquid pumping system, the combination comprising a compressor, a liquid pump connected therewith and actuated by motive fluid therefrom, an unloading device for said compressor, a chamber containing liquid to be pumped, and means for controlling said device in response to the level of liquid in said chamber.

3. In a liquid pumping system, the combination of a compressor, a liquid pump connected therewith and actuated by motive fluid therefrom, an unloading device for said compressor, a chamber from which said pump operates to elevate liquid material,

and means responsive to variations in level of the material in said chamber for effecting operation of said unloading device successively to loadedand unloaded positions.

liquid in said reservoir including a controlsors, a plurality of pumping mechanisms,

' 4. In a pumping system, the combination comprising a compressor, a pumpconnected therewith and actuated by pressure fluid therefrom, an" unloading valve controlling loading and unloading of said compressor while running, a chamber from which said pump operates to elevate material, and means responsive to variations in the level. of material in said chamber for controlling said unloading valve.

5. In combination, a compressor, a receiver connected therewith, a pump connected to said receiver and supplied with actuating fluid therefrom, a reservoir from which said pump operates to elevate material, a compressor unloading valve adapted to be actuated by pressure fluid from said reservoir, and controlling means for cont-rollingthe flow of pressure fluid. relative to said unloading valve to effect automatically the operation of said unloading valve in response to variations in level of the material in said reservoir.

6.- In combination, a compressor, a receiver connected therewith, a pump connected to said receiver and supplied with actuating fluid therefrom, a reservoir from which sald pump operates to elevate a liquid, a compressor unloading valve adapted to be actuated by pressure fluid from said reservoir, and means for controlling the flow of pressure fluid relative to said unloading valve responsive to variations in level of the ling valve and controlling mechanism for said valve comprising a diaphragm and a depending pipe extending beneath the level of liquid to transmit pressure variations resulting from variable liquid level to said diaphragm.

7. In a fluid pumping system, the combination comprising a plurality of compressors, a pressure fluid actuated pump connectible with any one of said compressors so as to be supplied with actuating fluid therefrom, an unloading device for each compressor, a chamber containing liquid to be pumped, and means for controlling the operation of the unload ing device on that compressor which is supplying the pump with actuating fluid in response to the level of liquid in said chamber. a

. 8. In a liquid pumping system, the combination comprising a plurality of compresmeans for connecting any of said comprcssors to any of said pumping mechanisms so that the latter may be supplied with actuating fluid therefrom, an unloading device for each of said compressors, and means including controlling mechanism associated with each of said pumping mechanisms and responsive to variations in the level of liquid to be pumped and operative connections between said mechanisms and ,the unloading 1 devicesof said compressors whereby the level of liquid being pumped by any of said pumping mechanisms may be made to control the unloading device on any of said compressors.

9. In a liquid pumping system,-a multicylinder compressor, unloading means for each cylinder of said compressor, a pressure fluid actuated liquid pump, means for'selectively connecting said pump to either cylinder of said compressor so as to receive a sup-.

g mechanism connectible with any one of said compressors so as to besupplied with actuating fluid therefrom and disposed in said chamber, an unloading device for each of said compressors, and means controlled by the zor which is supplying the pump with motive uid.

11. In a fluid pumping system, a plurality of receiver tanks, means forming a chamber containing the liquid to be pumped, pumping mechanism adapted to be connected to and operated-by air from any of said tanks and disposed within said chamber, and means controlled by the level of the liquid in said chamber for controlling the air flow relative to said receiver tanks.

12. In an air lift pumping system, the combination comprising a compressor, an air lift foot piece connected therewith so as to be supplied with actuating fluid therefrom,-an unloading device for said compressor, and means for controlling said device in response to variations in the level of liquid in which said foot piece'is submerged.

13. In combination, a compressor, a ump connected therewith and supplied wit tuatingfluid therefrom, an unloading device for said compressor a chamber containing liquid to be pumpe and means responsive to variations in level of the liquid in said chamber for effecting operation of said unloading device to loaded and unloaded positions automatically in response to variations in the level of liquid in said chamber, said means including a pipe extending into the liquid in said chamber, a diaphragm closing the end of said pipe and subjected to pressure variations therein, and controlling mechanism actuated by said diaphragm.

14. Incombination, a compressor, an air lift pump connected therewith and supplied with actuating fluid therefrom, a chamber containing liquid in which said pump is'sublevel of liquid in said chamber for controlling the unloading device on that compres- .merged, an unloading valve for controlling loading and unloading of said compressor, a pipe having one end open and submerged below the level of liquid, a pressure responsive device closing the other end of said pipe and subjected to variations in pressure in said pipe corresponding to variations in the level of. liquid, and mechanism actuated by said pressure responsive device for automatically controlling said unloading valve.

15. In an air lift pumping system, a compressor, an unloading device for said compressor, an air lift pump connected with said compressor and supplied with actuating fluid therefrom, a liquid containing chamber in which said pump is submerged, a pipe having one end open and submerged in said liquid, a pressure responsive device connected to said pipe at its upper end and adapted to be operated by pressure variations in said pipe corresponding to variations in the level of liquid, a pilot valve mechanism operated by said pressure responsive device, and pressure fluid actuated means controlled by said pilot valve for operating said unloading device.

16. In an air lift pum ing system, a compressor, an air lift foot piece connected therewith and supplied withactuating fluid therefrom, a liquid containing chamber, a pipe having one end open and submerged below the level of liquid in said chamber, a pressure responsive device communicating with and closing the upper end of said pipe, an unloading valve for said compressor, pressure fluid actuated means foroperating said unloading valve, and means controlled by said pressure responsive device for controlling said pressure fluid actuated operating means. 

